דְּחַל
𐤃𐤇𐤋
dᵉchal
H1763 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To fear, to be afraid, to experience dread or terror; in some instances, to inspire dread or be regarded as formidable. The word denotes a response of anxiety or awe in the face of perceived danger, threat, or the presence of something powerful. Used both for the emotion of fear and the cause that provokes such fear, whether a person, circumstance, or divine presence.
Semantic Range
to fear, to be terrified, to be anxious, to cause fear, to inspire dread, to be regarded as formidable, to be dreadful
Root / Etymology
Root: דחל. This root carries the basic meaning 'to fear, to be or become anxious, to be terrified.' The verb דְּחַל appears in Biblical Aramaic and derives from this root, reflecting both the internal experience of fear and the external effect of causing fear. The form is common to Northwest Semitic languages, with cognates attested in Syriac (dḥl), and parallels can be drawn to the Hebrew root זחל (to crawl, tremble), though the two are distinct.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דְּחַל appears only in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel, Ezra). It is used to describe both human fear (often in the face of terrifying dreams, intimidating decrees, or awesome revelations) and the fearful reputation of individuals or peoples (e.g., Daniel 3:22; Daniel 5:19). The causative form, often rendered as 'to make afraid' or 'to inspire fear,' emphasizes the action of provoking dread rather than simply experiencing it. In Biblical Aramaic, דְּחַל is functionally analogous to the Hebrew פָּחַד and יָרֵא, but contextually can imply a more visceral or overwhelming fear. English translations typically use 'fear,' 'be afraid,' 'dreadful,' or 'terrible,' but may not fully capture the intensity or potential causative nuance in certain contexts. The meaning has remained relatively stable across the Second Temple period; later Jewish Aramaic usage retains similar semantics.
Translation Consistency
Most common and natural rendering of דְּחַל’s primary sense — to be afraid or to experience dread. "Fear" also works transitively/predicatively (to fear someone; to be feared) so it covers the secondary sense of causing or inspiring fear while remaining simple and idiomatic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to זָחַל; to slink, i.e. (by implication) to fear, or (causatively) be formidable; make afraid, dreadful, fear, terrible.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
דחל (dᵉchal) — to fear, to be afraid, to terrify
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1763-02 |
דְּחִילָה֩ | dechilah | AVQsfsa |
dreadful | dreaded | feared | 2 |
H1763-03 |
וְ/דָחֲלִ֖ין | vedachalin | AC/Vqrmpa |
and fearing | fearing ones | and fearing ones | 2 |
H1763-01 |
דְּחִֽיל | dechil | AVQsmsa |
was terrible | dreaded | terrifying | 1 |
H1763-04 |
וִֽ/ידַחֲלִנַּ֑/נִי | vidachalinani | AC/Vpi3ms/Sp1cs |
and it terrified me | and he will terrify me | and it terrified me | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1763-01 |
Daniel 2:31 | דְּחִֽיל | dechil | AVQsmsa |
was terrible | dreaded | terrifying |
H1763-04 |
Daniel 4:2 | וִֽ/ידַחֲלִנַּ֑/נִי | vidachalinani | AC/Vpi3ms/Sp1cs |
and it terrified me | and he will terrify me | and it terrified me |
H1763-03 |
Daniel 5:19 | וְ/דָחֲלִ֖ין | vedachalin | AC/Vqrmpa |
and fearing | fearing ones | and fearing ones |
H1763-03 |
Daniel 6:27 | וְ/דָ֣חֲלִ֔ין | vedachalin | AC/Vqrmpa |
and-fearing | fearing ones | and fearing ones |
H1763-02 |
Daniel 7:7 | דְּחִילָה֩ | dechilah | AVQsfsa |
dreadful | dreaded | feared |
H1763-02 |
Daniel 7:19 | דְּחִילָ֣ה | dechilah | AVQsfsa |
terrifying | dreaded | terrifying |